Indonesia decided to rename its maritime region in the southwest part of the South China Sea as the “North Natuna Sea," asserting its own sovereignty in the area. America stepped up patrols in disputed South China Sea waters, asserting its willingness to keep the waterway an open sea.

Emerging market companies' payouts have been in decline since 2014, but the trend reversed in the second quarter with a nearly 30% rise in total dividends paid compared to the same period in 2016. The ...